Writing-telegraph



(No Model.) 2 s eets-4mm 1.

T. EWING, Jr. WRITING TELEGRAPH.

No. 543,231. Patent ed July 23, 1895.-

I I-I ll Witnesses= 6 Zia/,4

(No Model.) 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

T. EWING, Jr. WRITING TELEGRAPH. Z No. 543,231. Patented July '23, 1895.

2e 2 o 25 6 I (I a2 J2 V Witnesses= Inventor QT WQWW? 7% UNITED STATES THOMAS EYV ING, J R., OF YONKERS, ASSIG-NOR TO 'VVILLIAM E. GUMP, OF

PATENT Orrrcn.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WRITING-TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,231, dated July 23, 1895.

Application filed January 9, 1894. Renewed December 24, 18 94. Serial No. 632,892. (No modehl tain of the movements of the pen and paper at the receiver are effected by electrical pulsations transmitted over one circuit, and the remaining movements are effected similarly over the other circuit, these circuits being electrically independent, so that the currents onone are not operatively affected by the currents on the other.

The movements of thetransmitting-pen inv the plane of the paper are resolved into two components by attaching to the pen two bars placed at an angle, preferably nearly at right angles, to each other. The bars in moving.

forward and back operate transmitting, mechanism, which sends currents that move simi-,

lar bars attached to the pen of the receivinginstrument. The mechanism operated by one of the component bars at the transmitter sends its currents over one of the circuits and that, operated by the other bar similarly operates to send its currents over the other cirof the pen in extent and direction.

per.

cuit. These two sets of currents, sent independently of each other and simultaneously, when required, over the two circuits, eifect the transmitting of the movements of the transmitter-pen in the plane of the paper. In addition, two other classes of movements have to be effected at the receiver. One of them is the lifting and lowering of the receiver-pen and the other the feeding of the receiver-pa- The lifting and lowering of the pen is effected by sending from thetransmitter extrastrong positive and negative currents over one of the circuits and receiving them on a polarized magnet, which responds to these stronger currents, but will not respond to the weaker currents that control the movements The paper-shifting is effected by sending a strong current over the other circuit, which in this case op.-rates a magnet that need not be polarize One feature of my invention consists in the grouping of the' mechanisms which effect the several operations in two substantially separate circuits, as above explained; and my invention further consists in the combination, with the penelifting and paper-shifting transmitter mechanism, of means for returning to Construction of the Receiver.

The two halves of the receiver are identical, except that in the circuit through the line a there is a non-polarized magnet which operates the paper-shifting device and in the circuit through the other line b there is a polarized magnet which operates the pen lifting and lowering device.

The tracing pen, pencil, or stylus I is con nected with'two rods 2, which make at their common point of junction with the pen approximately a right angle with each other.

These rods are pushed or pulled backward and forward along their length by two pinions 3 3. (Shown in dotted lines.) These pinions are each actuated by miter-whe'els. The miter- Wheels aredriven by polarizedmagnets, .Which are actuated by weak alternating line-currents. When the rods 2 are pushed or pulled they move the pen in straight or curved lines,

according to the relative operation of the mechanisms.

In each mechanism a polarized pen-moving whecls, and the one of these with which itis engaged determines the direction of revolution of the lower miter-wheel and of its pinion, and thereby determines the direction to which the rod will be driven. The clutch is shifted by the lever 9, which carries an armature controlled by the polarized directioncontroller magnet 10.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the direction in which the rod of either mechanism moves is determined by the position of the armature of the direction-controlling magnet 10, and the extent of movement of the rod in either direction is determined by the number of oscillations of the escapement by the pen-moving magnet 4.

The pen-moving magnet4and direction-controlling magnet 10 are both polarized magnets, and some means must be provided for preventing the armature of magnet 10 from being operated by the ordinary currents which operate the magnet 4. To effect this I introduce a shunt around this magnet 10, which carries so much of the current around this magnet that it is not operated except when a quite heavy current is thrown into the circuit.

The foregoing mechanism, respecting which I- make no claim of invention, is sufficient if operated by suitable transmitting mechanism to cause the receiver-pen to follow the movements of the transmitter-pen, both as to extent and direction, in the plane of the paper in the operation of writing and in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper in the operation of positioning the pen; but it is necessary in addition to provide elements to lift and lower the pen and to shift the paper. My claim to novelty is to the location of these elements-one in one circuit and one in the other circuit.

The pen-lifting device of Fig. 1 consists of a polarized magnet 11, which is connected in the circuit through the line bin any convenient location relatively to the magnets 4 and 10. A suitable shunt connects the ends of the coils of magnet 11. To magnetize this magnet 11 so as to cause it to lift or lower the pen there must be thrown onto the line b a stronger current than is necessary to operate the magnets 4 and 10. The device for doing this will be described later.

In operating the magnet 11 the magnet 10 is also magnetized, and in operating either magnet ll'or magnet 10 the magnet 4 is magnetized. The armature of magnet 10 is thrown only when the current sent to operate magnet 11 is the reverse of thelast current which operated 10. When the armatures of magnets 4 and 10 are thrown together, the pen is not moved, as the clutch is out of gear. The only effect of operating magnet 4 once is to move the pen one unit of distance, which is trifling. The transmitter is constructed to correct the untimely operation of magnet 10 with magcircuits.

polarized. It is provided with a suitable shunt, so that it is not operated by the weaker currents which operate the magnets 4 andlO in line a. The remarks above made respecting the untimely operation of magnets 4 and 10 in line I) apply equally to similar untimely operation of magnets 4 and 10 in line a.

Construction of Transmitter.

The transmitter must send over each of the circuits alternating pulsations to control the extent of movement of the receiving-pen, a distinct set of polarized impulses to control the direction of its movement, over one of them a third set of polarized impulses to lift and lower the pen, and over the other circuit must be sent a third set of impulses to shift the paper.

The transmitter-pen by its horizontal movement sends the impulses that effect the hori- I zontal movements of the receiver-pen. It is not feasible in practice to impose on the operator conditions respecting the position of the transmitter-pen at the time when it is lifted or lowered or when the paper-shift is operatedor when the direction of movement of the pen is reversed. Therefore, with the apparatus and system shown, where not less.

tive currents are sent and through the'other negative currents by mechanisms operating independently of each other, it is necessaryin order to avoid short circuits that these two branches be not closed simultaneously.

My invention consists in providing the penlifter and paper-shifter of the transmitter with attachments operating to open those switches which in the operations of the transmitter-pen are closed to transmit the currents which control the horizontal movements of the receiver-pen.

The construction and operation of the transmitter will now be described. It consists of two halves, which are connected with the corresponding halves of the receiver by separate Each of these halves of the transmitter consists, broadly, in a battery of cells connected in series with an intermediate ground, a transmittendisk and switches operated by movements of the transmitter-pen in the horizontal, and a commutator which when operated opens these switches, breaks the normal ground, and grounds one end of the series of cells and connects the other end of the series to line. tween the two parts is that the commutator in the circuit through line a is mechanically IIO The only difference beattached to a paper-shifter and always connects the. battery in the'circuit in the same direction and is operated by the pressure of the finger on a switch-arm. The commutator in the circuit through 5, however, is a polechanger operated by the lifting and lowering of the transmitter-pen, which momentarily- The normal connections to ground are by wire 13, switch 14, and wire 15. To each line is connected one of twotransmitting-disks 16.

Each disk is revolved by moving the trans- 1nitter-pen 17. This pen like the receiver-pen is-connected with two rods 18, on the end of i 1 which are racks that engage with pinions 19.

These transmitter-pen rods impart rotation to the pinions with which they engage, instead of having motion imparted to them thereby, as is the case with the-similar rods attached to the receiver-pen. Upon the same axes with these two pinions are disks 16, above mentioned, around each of which is cut a sinuous slot 20. This slot engages the end of a pivoted metal rod 21; (Shown in section.)

-When the disk is rotated, this rod 21 is vi-' brated between the two contact-points 22 22,-

which are connected, respectively, with the 1 positive and negative ends of one of the bat' teries above referred to. The rod 21 and the contacts22 22 constitute an alternating pulsa tor. This pulsator is electrically connected the shoe to the other and momentarily di During with a rod 23, which is frictionally mounted on the axle carrying the disk 16. When the disk is revolvedin either direction, the rod iscarried against one of the contacts which lie on either side in the metallic shoe 24 and connect the pulsator through the resistance R to the line. tion changes, the rod swings from one side of connects the pulsator from the line. this period other currents are being sent, as will be described later.

From the foregoing partial description of the transmitter it will be seen that rotation of I the transmitter-disks will cause alternating currents to be sent over the lines a and b, which currents pass through the resistances R, and are diminished in strength thereby. The circuit of line a is as follows: groundwire 15, switch 14, wire 13,- one-half of battery,

one of points 22, rod 21, rod 23, shoe 24, re-

insulated from the rod and connected to line ahead of resistance B. When either of the disks connected with the transmitter-pen is Whenever the direction of morotated in either direction the frictionally-at- I tached' rod 23 is moved vto the right or left from the'position in which it is shown-in the figures. The efiect of this is, first, to bring the insulated cap 25 on the end of this rod into contact with one of two springs 26, whichllie on either' side of rod 23 and are normally in contact with points 27, one of. which is connected to one pole and the other to the other pole of the battery. As the disk is still further rotated, the spring with which contact is established is carried out of engagement with. the contact-points 27 and the rod 23 is moved on into engagement'with the metallic shoe 24, thereby establishing the connection from the pulsator to the resistance R above referred to; but at the first moment of contact of the insulated cap 25 with the spring 26, connection is established between the insulated cap and the contact-point in contact with the spring. This momentarily closes a circuit from the battery through the contact-point along the spring to the insulated cap, and from thence to line, exactly as heretofore traced, except that, as will be seen, the pulsator and resistance R are cutout. The current which is-thus forced to line for a moment whenever the insulated cap is brought in contact with either of the springs is of sufficient strength, by reason of the cutting out of the resistance R, to operate the magnet 10. This connection forces one or other of the batteries through one or other of contact-points 27, spring 26,

tion the rod is kept over against the same spring and holds it away from its contactpoint. The armature of the armature magnet 4 is vibrated by the current sent through the pulsator, and the armature of magnet 10 re- .mains in position to continue the motion of the receiving-pen in the same direction.' So soon as the motion of the transmitter-pen is reversed at either rod 18 connected with the pen the rod 23 is carried back out of contact with the spring wit-h which it has been in contact and into contact with the other of springs 26. This other spring, as will-be seen, is connected with the opposite end ofthe battery and will send a momentary current through the cap and around the resistance of opposite polarity toy that sent by contact with the first spring. erate the magnet 10 and reverse the clutch, so that on further operation of the magnet 4 This current will opthe direction of the motion of the receiving- 7 station A is broken. One pole of the battery is grounded, and the other pole (always the positive or always the negative pole) is connected to the line through a pole-changer 29 and around the transmitter, the transmitterdisk being at the same time out out of line.

When this is effected, a sufficiently large current traverses line I) to operate pen-lifting magnet 11 and lift the receiving-pen.

The change in the circuit above stated is efiected by merely lifting the transmitter-pen. One of the rods attached to this pen rests on an arm of the an'chor-escapement 28, which, when the pen is lifted, rotates the shaft of the pole changer 29 and moves the polechanger far enough to pass one pair of contact-strips 30 under the pair of brushes of the pole-changer. When this movement of the pole-changer has been completely made the conditions of the circuit are reestablished, so that the pens can be moved to any desired position; but during the movements of the pole-changer the following changes of circuit are efiect'ed: The normal ground connection is broken momentarily at switch 14, and one pole of the battery is grounded and the other connected to line b, as stated. This circuit should be maintained asufficient length of time to fullycharge the line and to.insure sufiicient flow of current to actuate magnet 11 and lift the pen. When the receiver pen is lowered the pole' changer shaft is again to tated in the same direction as before, and far enough to carry the pole-changer around one more space. During its rotation this sets up exactly the same circuit as before, except that the battery is connected up in the rewersed direction, so as to send a current to line of opposite polarity to the current used in lifting the pen, thereby effecting the lowering of the pen. This change of polarity will be clear when it is observed that on the polechanger each alternate contacting a strip is connected with one pole of the battery and the intermediate strips with the other pole of the battery. 7

The circuits and construction of the polechanger can readily be seen from inspection of the drawings. The effect of operating the pole-changer is to double-the electromotive force of the current on the line and still further increase its strength by cutting out the resistance H.

To shift the paper a rod 31 at the transmitter is pushed in, thereby mechanically shifting the paper at the transmitter-station, and at the same time so changing the circuits of line a as to actuate the magnet 12 at the receiver-station and shift the paper by the escapement mechanism shown. To accomplish this one poleof the battery on this side is connected to ground, and the other pole is connected to line a, whereby it reaches the ground at the receiving-station. lVhen the switch 14' is turned the resistance R is cut out and there is sent through the paper-shifting magnet 12 a current of double the normal electromotive force, and. further strengthened by a reduction of resistance in line, whereby a cur-z rent of sufficient strength to operate the magnet 12 is transmitted along the line. These changes in the circuit are effected as follows: When the rod 31 is pushed in the contactswitoh 14: disconnects lines 15 and 13 and grounds one pole of the battery. pole of the battery is switched directly onto line a, transmitter B being out out. The line is grounded. at the receiving-station.

The connections from the batter'ythrough either side of the pole-changer to line b, or through the paper-shifter commutator to line ct, constitute a third branchto line herein mentioned. In the system shown, as already stated, no two of these branches can be closed simultaneously. It, for example, the first-described branch were closed at the contact between rod 23 and shoe 2% and through alterhating pulsator say to the positive end of one of the batteriesat the same time that the second branch is closed say to the negative end of the battery through insulated cap 25 and one of springs 26 and contact-points 27'-there would be established a short cir- The other cuit, as follows: battery 22 21 23 24 R 25 26 27 battery. It is true that the device will operate if these two branches are simultaneously closed to the same pole of the battery; but at the instant of reversal of direction in the transmitter-pen the rod 2 L is as apt to be connected to one side of the battery as to the other, and while at the instant of reversing the direction of movement of the pen the firstnamed branch may happen to be broken at the alternating pulsator it is just as apt to be branches are simultaneously opened,forother- Wise the line might be connected through one of these commutators-"say to the positive pole of the batteryand through one of the other branches be connected to the negative pole. I avoid this difficulty by attaching to the pole-changer and the paper-shifter a device e. g., a bell-crank lever 32which, with each operation of the device to which it is attached, is brought down onto the end of the rod 23 and brings it to its neutral position. This breaks both the other branches to line and leaves onlythe branch through the commutator. The return of this rod 23 to neutral position also has another advantage. The current which shifts the paper or lifts or low ers the pen may also reverse the armature of the direction-controllinginagne't 10. An operator may shift the paper or lift the per-1 IO a with is operated the untimely reversal of the while the insulated cap is in contact with one of the springs 26 and holds the spring out of contact with its point 27. Under these conditions if the'pen at the transmitter is then moved farther in the same direction, so that the contact between cap 25, spring 26, and point 27 is not reestablished, the pens will move in oppositedirections; but if the rod 23 is brought back to neutral position whenever the pen-lifter or paper-shifter in line theremagnets 10 by the current through the penlifter or paper-shifter does no harm, since no matter in what direction the pen is moved after the operation of these devices the very first movementofi it will set right the magnet 10 at the receiver-station.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modification in which the battery is permanently grounded and a second resistance R is introduced into the line. The currents from the alternating pulsator traverse both resistances R and R, the currents through the insulated cap traversethe resistance B only, and the currents through the commutator traverse neither resistance R or R. The ground-switch 14 and .the ground-brush 30 of the commutator shown in Fig. 1 are here omitted.

In Fig. 3 I use no resistances. The batteries are permanently grounded, as in Fig. 2. In each of the leads w and y I introduce a battery between the points where the wires are led off to contact-points 22 22 and the points where thewires are led ofit to the contactpoints 27 27. I also introduce a batteryin each of the leads a: and y between the points wherethe wires-are led oft to the contactpoints 27 27 and the pointswhere the leads m and y contact with the commutator.

As in Fig. 2, the ground-switch 14 and the groundbrush 30 of the commutator shown in Fig. 1 are here omitted.

Inboth Figs. 2'and 3 all of the batteriesin lead whavethe same pole-say the positive pole-grounded, and the same pole-say the negative pole-to line, and all of the batteries in leadyhave the same po1e.say the negative polegrounded, and the same pole-say the positive pole-:to line, as is indicated in the drawings. I show {these arrangements of Figs. 2 and 3 as equivalents of the arrangement of Fig. 1. r r

There is this advantage in using permanent groundsfor the batteries and always connecting the same end of any one battery to line,

to wit: that each battery or other source of energy may be used to supply current to several machines.

The arrangement of Fig. 2 requires but two batteries, and the arrangement of Fig. 3 requires six batteries; but these batteries when not in use are not being exhausted, and there is always waste in working through resistances, which is avoided inthe arrangement of Fig. 3. I have shown in these two detail figures only the line which includes the penlifting commutator, and only the transmitter end of this line. The .same arrangement is applied to the line which includes the papershiftingcommutator. Thechangesin neither case involve change in the construction of the receivers. a

Without limiting myself to the precise details or to the mechanical arrangements shown, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a writing telegraph system, the com-' bination of a wire joining two-stations,a suitable device atthe receiver station for controlling the movements of thereceiver-pen, both in extent and direction, and a pen lifting and lowering device, and at the transmitter station means for transmitting over the line currents which control the movements of the receiver pen in extent, stronger currents that control its movements in direction and still stronger currents which effect the lifting and lowering of the receiver pen, substantially as described. v

2. In a two wire writing telegraph system the combination of two wires joining the two stations, a suitable device at the receiver stationin the two lines for controlling the move-' ments of the receiver-pen both in extent and direction, apen lifting and lowering device in one of the lines, and a paper shifting device in the other line, and at the transmitting station means for transmitting over the two lines currents which control themovements of the receiver pen in extent and direction, means for transmitting over one of the lines currents which control the lifting and lowering of the receiver pen, and means for transmitting over the other of the lines currents which control the shifting of the paper at the receiving station, substantially as described.

3. In atwo wire writing telegraph system the combination of two wires joining the two stations, a suitable device at the receiver station in the two lines for controlling the movements of the receiver pen both in extent and direction, a pen lifting and lowering device in one of the lines and a paper shifting device in the other line, and at the transmittingstation means for transmitting over the two lines currentswhich control the movements of the receiver pen in extent and direction, means for transmitting over one of the lines currents which control the lifting and lowering of the receiver pen, and means for transmitting over the other of; the lines currents which control the shifting of the paper at the receiver station, the said pen-lifting and. lowering and paper shittingcurrents being stronger than the said other currents, substantially as described. I I

4. In a writing telegraph the combination of a transmitting and receiving pen, two circuits in each'of which is a half of atransmitter and a half of a receiver, each half'of controlling the direction of movement of the tion a paper shifting magnetic device and at the transmitter station a switch for-control ling it, which when operated, closes the circuit around and cuts out the half transmitter; and in the other circuit at the receiver station a pen lifting and lowering magnetic device and at the transmitter station a switch for controlling it, which, when operated,

,closes the circuit around and cuts out the half transmitter, substantially as described.

5. In a writing telegraph the combination at a transmitter station of devices for sending to line two sets of currents, and means for returning to its neutral position the device for sending one of the sets of currents upon each operation of the device for sending the other set of currents, substantially as described.

6. In a writing telegraph the combination at a transmitter station of devices for sending to line two sets of currents of different at the transmitter station of a switch which is moved by the transmitter pen to either side of its neutral position, and when so moved sends distinctive currents to line with each reversal of the direction of motion of the transmitter pen, a second switch for sending to line stronger currents, apparatus at the receiver station operated by the weaker currents and receiver pen and subject to untimely operation by the stronger currents, and means at the transmitter for returning the switch for sending to line the weaker currents to its neutral position with each closure of the switch for sending the stronger currents, substantially as described.

8. In a writing telegraph a transmitting pen connected to a transmitter attached to which is a switch in a branch line which follows the movements of the pen and is constructed to send to line distinctive currents with each reversal of direction of movement of the pen, a second switch for closing a branch to line around the said transmitter, and means for returning the first named switch to neutral position upon each operation of the second switch, substantially as described.

9. In awriting telegraph a transmitter pen connected to a transmitter attached to which is a switch which follows the movements of the pen to close and then by further movement in the same direction to open a connection to line which when closed sends to line an increased current, such increased current being of opposite polarity with each reversal of direction of the pen, a second switch for closing a branch around the said transmitter, and means for returning thefirst named switch to neutral position upon each operation of the second switch, substantially as described.

10. In a writing telegraph the combination of a transmitting and receiving pen, two line wires in each of which is a half of a transmitter and a half of a receiver, each half of the transmitter being connected up with the transmitting pen and by it moved in opposite directions, a resistance in the circuit with each of said half transmitters, a switch controlled by each of said half transmitters which closes the linearound said resistance and changes the polarity of the current with each reversal of the direction of movement of the transmitting pen, a second switch for closing the line around the said transmitter, and means for returning the first named switch to neutral position upon each operation of the second switch; and each half of the receiver being connected up with the receiving pen and including a magnetic device for moving the pen along a given line operated by the current when the aforesaid resistance is in the circuit, and a second magnetic device for controlling the direction of movement of the pen operated whenever the said transmitterswitch is moved in either direction from its neutral position, and a paper shifting magnetic device or a pen lifting magnetic device operated only when the said second switch is operated, substantially as described.

11. In a writing telegraph the combination of a transmitting and a receiving pen, two

lines in each of which is a half of a transmitter and a half of a receiver, each half of the transmitter being connected up with the transmitting pen and by it moved in opposite directions, and being so constructed as to send varied currents to line when so operated, a resistance in the circuit with each of said half transmitters, aswitch controlled by each of said half transmitters which momem tarily closes the line around said resistance and changes the polarity of the current with each reversal of the direction of movement of the transmitting pen, and a second switch constructed to cut out of line the foregoing device and-send an increased current to line, and means for returning the first named switch to neutral position upon each operation of thesecond switch; and each half of the receiver being connected up with there'- ceiving pen and including a magnetic device for moving the pen along a given line operated by the current when the said resistance is in the circuit, and a second magnetic device for controlling the direction of movements of the pen operated only when the said ICE resistance is. cut out of the circuit, and a pa-' polarities and having attached to it a switch in a branch to line which follows the movements of the pen, and through which are sent to linedistinotive currents with each reversal of movement of the pen, a second switch for closinga branch to line around the said transmitter, and means for returning the first named switch to neutral position upon each operation of the second switch, substantially as described.

13. In a writing telegraph transmitter constructed to send to line currents of both polarities, a combination of two switches each i in a separate branch to line, one switch being in a branch with a pulsator, and connected through the pen with .a switch in another branch, the co-operation of the switches when operated by the pen being such that with each operation of the switches the latter switch closes, and again breaks its branch before the former switch is closed, a third switch in athird branch to line and means connected with the third switch whereby when the thirdswitch is closed the other two switches are open, substantially as described.

14. In a writing telegraph transmitter construoted to send to line currents of both polarities, the combination of a transmitter pen,

a current pulsator operated thereby through .being so constructed and adjusted relatively to each other that the second branch is closed, and then broken before the first branch is closed, each time that the switch arm is moved in either direction from its neutral position, a third switch in a third branch to line, and

means connected with the third switch whereby when the third switch is closed the switch arm is brought back to its neutral position opening the other two switches, substantially as described.

' THOMAS EWING, JR. In presence of- SAMUELW. BALCH,

JAMES HART ROBERTSON. 

